ANAHEIM -- The Angels opted not to sell ahead of Thursday’s Trade Deadline, instead wanting their young core to experience what it’s like to play meaningful baseball down the stretch.
However, the Angels looked listless in their first two games after the Deadline, losing two straight to the last-place White Sox, and finding themselves in an early 5-0 hole in the series finale on Sunday.
But shortstop Zach Neto woke the offense up with a solo shot in the sixth and a two-run double in the seventh. It helped set up Taylor Ward to deliver a three-run walk-off homer in the ninth inning, lifting the Angels to an 8-5 win to avoid a sweep at Angel Stadium.
“It feels really good, we definitely needed it,” Ward said. “The first two games were rough. But we didn’t stop fighting and got the win today.”
Ward set a career high in the process with his 26th homer of the year, and it came in a key moment in the ninth against lefty reliever Tyler Alexander. He jumped all over a 3-2 sweeper to give the Angels (54-58) their eighth walk-off win of the year, which is their most since 2015. It was also Ward’s fourth career walk-off hit and his third career walk-off homer.
Ward, who was a potential trade candidate, said he’s pleased that he wasn’t moved and that the front office decided not to sell. He said it’s now up to the players to stay in contention the rest of the way, with the Angels 5 1/2 games back of the third and final AL Wild Card spot.
“I love it,” Ward said. “It’s definitely good to have that confidence in us, and now we’ve got to go out there and do it.”
The Angels hadn’t scored since the seventh inning on Friday and managed just one hit in a 1-0 loss on Saturday. But Neto snapped that scoreless streak with a solo homer in the sixth on a 1-2 slider from right-hander Sean Burke that caught too much of the zone. It was Neto’s 16th homer of the year but his first since July 11, and seemed to get the offense going.
“It was about time I got one in the air,” Neto said. “I really needed that one. And it kind of sparked the team a little bit.”
Ward hit an RBI single later in the frame to add to what became a three-run sixth inning, which was set up by a walk from Nolan Schanuel and a double to left from Mike Trout in Trout’s first game since Wednesday after missing two games due to illness.
In the seventh, Christian Moore started the rally with a leadoff single off reliever Mike Vasil in Moore’s first game back since landing on the injured list on July 2 with a sprained left thumb. Yoán Moncada followed with a single, which set the stage for Neto’s game-tying double down the left-field line.
It was a good sign from Neto, who has again been the club’s best player this season but has scuffled a bit offensively since the All-Star break. It was his first homer of the second half, and he's hit .246/.320/.354 over his last 16 games. But interim manager Ray Montgomery said he never worries about Neto’s production.
“Listen, you're gonna go through those streaks,” Montgomery asid. “We talk about it every day. There are times when you're gonna have a little down swell. But obviously, the bigger the moment, the better he is.”
Neto said he’s hopeful the Angels can build on the victory, as the Angels are aiming to remain competitive the rest of the way. Neto has never played in meaningful games down the stretch and is part of the young core that’s so important to the organization going forward.
The Angels are trying to snap a postseason drought that goes back to 2014 and will need more big performances from players like Ward and Neto to stay in the race.
“It’s big time,” Neto said. “Hopefully, this changes the momentum that we had. That's a pretty good ballclub over there. And just being able to sneak a win out of here, and we’ll come in tomorrow and play the Rays and hopefully start something new.”